Multi-layered container with intermediate lid

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a multi-layered container, including a cover ( 10 ), with a plurality of first locking projections ( 15 ), and a plurality of container bodies ( 20 ) having a plurality of locking flaps ( 23 ). Each of the plurality of locking flaps ( 23 ) rotatably extends from each of predetermined portions of the circumferential outer surface of the container body ( 20 ), with a locking hole ( 24 ) provided on the locking flap ( 23 ). The multi-layered container further includes an intermediate lid ( 30 ) provided between the cover ( 10 ) and an uppermost container body ( 20 ) or between the container bodies ( 20 ). The intermediate lid ( 30 ) has a plate-shaped part ( 31 ), a coupling part ( 32 ) bent into a channel-shape while extending from an edge of the plate-shaped part ( 31 ), and a plurality of coupling flanges ( 35 ) extending downward from predetermined portions of the coupling part ( 32 ), with a second locking projection ( 25 ) provided on an end of each of the plurality of coupling flanges ( 35 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates, in general, to multi-layered containerswith intermediate lids and, more particularly, to a multi-layeredcontainer with an intermediate lid, which has a structure possible tosanitarily contain foods therein, and in which even existing containerbodies can be stacked by using the intermediate lid.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, container bodies to contain therein foods are made ofmaterials, such as synthetic resin, heat resistant glass, heat resistantceramic material and etc. Particularly, container products made ofsynthetic resin are easily adapted for mass production to reduceproduction costs thereof, and can be easily handled. Thus, the containerproducts made of synthetic resin have been widely used.

The conventional containers include locking units which are provided oneach of both the container bodies and covers to stably preserve andstore therein foods and to prevent the foods from undesirably leakingout.

In the conventional containers, the container bodies each include aplurality of locking projections which are projected outward frompredetermined portions around a circumferential outer surface of each ofthe container bodies at predetermined intervals. The cover of thecontainers includes a plurality of locking flaps which are provided tobe vertically rotated around a film hinge. Each of the plurality oflocking flaps has a coupling hole to lock each of the locking flaps toeach of the locking projections.

To couple the cover to a container body, the cover is placed on an opentop of the container body. In the above state, the plurality of lockingflaps of the cover are rotated and pressed toward the container body, sothat each of the locking flaps is elastically hooked to each of thelocking projections of the container body while each of the lockingprojections is inserted into the coupling hole of each of the lockingflaps.

However, the above-mentioned conventional containers have severalproblems as follows.

First, the conventional container is problematic in that it isimpossible to stack. Recently, according to the trend of people eatingfewer meals at home, and the trend of toward smaller families, whenfoods are prepared or cooked at home, most people do not cook a lot offood at a time. However, there are frequent occasions when a variety offoods are cooked a little at a time. As such, when various kinds offoods are required to be contained in a container, it is better to use aplurality of container bodies than to increase the size of one containerbody. However, the plurality of container bodies occupy a lot of spacein a refrigerator. To solve the above problems, a multi-layeredcontainer, in which a plurality of container bodies are stacked whileusing one cover, is required.

However, in case that the plurality of container bodies are stacked, anouter surface of a bottom of each of the container bodies may be smearedwith foods which are contained in a lower-layered container body.Furthermore, when one of the container bodies, smeared with foods on theouter surface of the bottom thereof, is put down on a surface on whichdust is deposited, the dust may adhere to the outer surface of thebottom of the container body. Thereafter, when the container bodysmeared with the dust is again layered on another container body, thedust may fall onto foods which are contained in the another containerbody.

To prevent the above-mentioned unhealthful situation, a means forpreventing the foods from being smeared on an upper-layered containerbody must be proposed.

In the meantime, to provide the conventional multi-layered container,new container bodies must be specifically designed and produced.Therefore, existing container bodies cannot be used in the conventionalmulti-layered containers. To overcome the above-mentioned problems, anew means must be developed to allow for use of existing containerbodies in the conventional multi-layered container, thus reducinghousehold expenses.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind theabove problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the presentinvention is to provide a multi-layered container with an intermediatelid, which has a structure making it possible to stack a plurality ofcontainer bodies, to sanitarily contain foods therein, and to recycleexisting container bodies.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-layeredcontainer with an intermediate lid, which increases coupling and contactforces between the intermediate lid and a container body and between theintermediate lid and a neighboring container body, thus preventing thecontained foods from being undesirably leaked.

In an aspect, the present invention provides a multi-layered container,including: a cover, with a plurality of first locking projectionsprovided around a circumferential outer surface of the cover atpredetermined intervals to be projected outward from the outer surfaceof the cover; and a plurality of container bodies, having a plurality oflocking flaps provided around a circumferential outer surface of each ofthe plurality of container bodies at predetermined intervals tocorrespond to the first locking projections of the cover. Each of theplurality of locking flaps rotatably extends from each of predeterminedportions of the circumferential outer surface of the container body nearto an open top of the container body, with a locking hole provided onthe locking flap to lock the locking flap to each of the first lockingprojections. The multi-layered container further includes anintermediate lid provided between the cover and an uppermost containerbody or between the container bodies. The intermediate lid has aplate-shaped part, a coupling part bent into a channel-shape whileextending from an edge of the plate-shaped part, and seated on an edgeof the open top of each of the container bodies, and a plurality ofcoupling flanges extending downward from predetermined portions of thecoupling part to be placed around the circumferential outer surface ofthe container body at predetermined intervals, with a second lockingprojection provided on an end of each of the plurality of couplingflanges to be locked to each of the locking flaps of a neighboringcontainer body.

The multi-layered container may further include a guide rail having apair of guide projections projected from predetermined portions of theouter surface of each of the container bodies to correspond to each ofthe coupling flanges of the intermediate lid, so that each of thecoupling flanges slides downward along the guide rail on the outersurface of the container body while the intermediate lid is coupled tothe container body.

Each of the coupling flanges may further have an inclined surface ateach of both sidewalls thereof such that an inner surface of thecoupling flange which is in contact with the container body is wider andan outer surface of the coupling flange is narrower, and each of theguide projections of the guide rail may be enlarged in a width as theguide projection is projected from the outer surface of the containerbody so that a contact surface of each of the guide projections which isin contact with each of the sidewalls of the coupling flange is inclinedto correspond to the inclined surface of each of the sidewalls of thecoupling flange.

The multi-layered container may further include a packing provided inthe coupling part of the intermediate lid to be in close contact withthe edge of the open top of the container body.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a multi-layeredcontainer, including: a cover, with a plurality of first lockingprojections provided around a circumferential outer surface of the coverat predetermined intervals to be projected outward from the outersurface of the cover; and a plurality of container bodies, having aplurality of locking flaps extending from each of predetermined portionsof a circumferential outer surface of the container body near to an opentop of each of the container bodies to correspond to each of the firstlocking projections. Each of the locking flaps is rotated between aposition of locking the cover to the container body and a position ofunlocking the cover from the container body, with a locking holeprovided on the locking flap to lock the locking flap to each of thefirst locking projections. Each of the container bodies further has aplurality of second locking projections provided around thecircumferential outer surface of each of the container bodies atpredetermined intervals while being projected outward from predeterminedportions near to a bottom of the container body to be parallel with thelocking flaps, so that the second locking projections are locked to thelocking flaps of another container body. The multi-layered containerfurther includes an intermediate lid provided between the containerbodies. The intermediate lid has a plate-shaped part, and a couplingslot part bent into a channel-shape to be opened downwardly whileextending from an edge of the plate-shaped part. The coupling slot partis seated on an edge of the open top of each of the container bodies.The intermediate lid further has a third locking projection projectedoutward from each of predetermined portions of the coupling slot part tocorrespond to each of the second locking projections of each of thecontainer bodies, so that the second and third locking projectionscorresponding to each other are locked to the same locking flap.

The third locking projection may further have a projection seatdepressed in a circumferential direction of the intermediate lid toreceive therein each of the second locking projections, and a supportprojection part provided on each of both ends of the projection seat tobe projected to a height equal to a thickness of each of the secondlocking projections, thus being locked to the locking flap.

The multi-layered container may further include a packing provided inthe coupling slot part of the intermediate lid to be in close contactwith the edge of the open top of the container body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a multi-layered container with an intermediatelid, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the multi-layered container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is partially enlarged sectional view of an encircled portion “A”of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is partially enlarged sectional view of an encircled portion “B”of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a multi-layered container withan intermediate lid, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the assembled multi-layered container ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion around a lockingflap of the multi-layered container of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are enlarged perspective views showing second and thirdlocking projections of the multi-layered container of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating an operation of themulti-layered container of FIG. 7.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the samereference numerals are used throughout the different drawings todesignate the same or similar components.

The present invention provides a multi-layered container with anintermediate lid, which has a structure making it possible to stack aplurality of container bodies, to sanitarily contain foods therein, andto recycle existing container bodies.

Hereinafter, a construction of the multi-layered container of thepresent invention will be described in detail, with reference to theattached drawings. Multi-layered containers having circularcross-sections will be explained according to following embodiments ofthe present invention, but the bounds of claims of the present inventionare not limited to the containers having circular cross-sections.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multi-layered container according to afirst embodiment of the present invention includes a cover 10, aplurality of container bodies 20 and a plurality of intermediate lids30.

The cover 10 defines a nearly circular appearance. The cover 10 has alocking region which is provided on each of diametrically opposite partsof an outer surface of the cover 10, based on a central portion of thecover 10. Each of the locking regions of the cover 10 defines aplate-shaped appearance. In the first embodiment, the locking region isprovided on each of four parts of the front, rear, left and right of thecover 10. The cover 10 includes a cover plate part 11 to cover anuppermost container body 20. The cover 10 further includes a sidewallpart 12 which extends downward from the cover plate part 11, with afirst locking projection 15 provided on each of the locking regionsaround an outer surface of the sidewall part 12 to be projected outwardfrom the outer surface of the sidewall part 12.

Each of the first locking projections 15 has a first locking protrusion16 which is protruded upward from an end of each of the first lockingprojections 15. Thus, each of a plurality of locking flaps 23 iselastically locked to and unlocked from each of the first lockingprojections 15 by each of the first locking protrusions 16.

In the same manner as the cover 10, each of the plurality of containerbodies 20, which has a structure possible to be covered with the cover10, includes a plurality of locking regions each having thereon alocking device. Each of the locking regions of the container body 20defines a plate appearance. The container body 20 has a circularappearance. Each of the container bodies 20 comprises a bottom part 21and a sidewall part 22. Each of the container bodies 20 furthercomprises a seating rib (not shown) which is provided around apredetermined portion of an outer surface of the sidewall part 22 nearto an open top of the container body 20 to be projected outward in acircumferential direction of the sidewall part 22. Thus, the sidewallpart 12 of the cover 10 is seated on the seating rib of the containerbody 20. A stepped part 28 is provided along a lower edge of each of thecontainer bodies 20 by depressions of the sidewall part 22 and thebottom part 21, thus being stepped inward from the sidewall part 22. Thestepped part 28 of each of the container bodies 20 is seated on an edgeof an open top of another container body 20, thus allowing the containerbodies 20 to be stacked on top of another.

The locking flap 23 is provided on each of the locking regions of eachof the container bodies 20, so that the locking flaps 23 are locked tothe first locking projections 15 of the cover 10. Each of the lockingflaps 23 is projected outward from the outer surface of the sidewallpart 22 of each of the container bodies 20 to be aligned with theseating rib of the container body 20. Furthermore, each of the lockingflaps 23 is rotated around a film hinge which is provided on each ofpredetermined portions extending from the seating rib. Each of thelocking flaps 23 has thereon a locking hole 24 to lock -the locking flap23 to each of the first locking projections 15. Each of the lockingholes 24 extends to the outer surface of the sidewall part 22 of thecontainer body 20. That is, the film hinge is not provided on apredetermined portion of the locking flap 23 on which the locking hole24 is provided, so that the locking flap 23 is smoothly rotated.Furthermore, each of the locking flaps 23, which is locked to each ofthe first locking projections 15 or each of second locking projections25, which will be described later herein, is prevented from beingundesirably unlocked due to elasticity of each of the film hinges.

The multi-layered container further includes a guide rail 13 which isprovided on each of the locking regions of the sidewall part 22 of eachof the container bodies 20 in a vertical direction of the sidewall part22. Each of the guide rails 13 is defined by a pair of guide projections14 which are spaced apart from each other and are provided onpredetermined portions of the outer surface of the sidewall part 22 ofeach of the container bodies 20 in the vertical direction of thesidewall part 22 to be projected outward from the outer surface of thesidewall part 22. Each of the guide projections 14 has an inclinedsurface such that each of the guide projections 14 is enlarged in awidth while a space between the pair of guide projections 14 is narrowedas the guide projection 14 is projected from the outer surface of thesidewall part 22 of the container body 20.

In the meantime, the cover 10 and each of the container bodies 20 havestructures which make it possible to seat the container body 20 on thecover 10 which is separated from the uppermost container body 20. Thatis, each of the container bodies 20 has a projection ring 29 which has apredetermined width and is projected downward from an outer surface ofthe bottom part 21 of the container body 20 to form a support ring onthe bottom part 21. The cover 10 has a seating ring 19 which has apredetermined radius to correspond to an inner diameter or an outerdiameter of the projection ring 29 of the container body 20 and isprojected upward from an outer surface of the cover plate part 11 of thecover 10 to form a support ring on the cover 10. To seat the containerbodies 20 on the cover 10, the cover 10 is placed on a support surface.Thereafter, the container bodies 20 are sequentially seated on the cover10 while the seating ring 19 of the cover 10 is in close contact withthe projection ring 29 of a lowermost container body 20. At this time,by a correspondence between the seating ring 19 and the projection ring29, the container bodies 20 are prevented from undesirably moved on thecover 10.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the multi-layered container according to thefirst embodiment further includes a plurality of intermediate lids 30which are respectively provided between the cover and an uppermostcontainer body and between the container bodies. Each of theintermediate lids 30 has a plate-shaped part 31 to prevent contactbetween neighboring two-layered container bodies 20, and a coupling part32 to couple the plate-shaped part 31 to the container body 20. Each ofthe intermediate lids 30 further has a coupling flange 35 which extendsfrom a predetermined portion of the coupling part 32 to an upper portionof the stepped part 28 of the container body 20.

The plate-shaped part 31 is arranged to be parallel with both the coverplate part 11 of the cover 10 and the bottom part 21 of the containerbody 20. The coupling part 32 is bent into a channel-shape whileextending upward, outward and downward from an edge of the plate-shapedpart 31. The multi-layered container further includes a packing 33 whichis provided in the coupling part 32 of the intermediate lid 30. By thepacking 33, a space defined between the container body 20 and theintermediate lid 30 is sealed, thus preventing contained foods fromundesirably leaking out.

The coupling flange 35 comprises two pairs of coupling flanges 35 tocorrespond to the locking regions of the container body 20. When each ofthe intermediate lids 30 is coupled to each of the container bodies 20,each of the coupling flanges 35 is arranged to pass through the lockinghole 24 of each of the locking flaps 23. Furthermore, each of thecoupling flanges 35 of each of the intermediate lids 30 slides alongeach of the above-mentioned guide rails 13. Therefore, each of thecoupling flanges 35 comprises an inclined surface at each of bothsidewalls thereof such that an inner surface of the coupling flange 35which is in contact with the container body 20 is wider and an outersurface of the coupling flange 35 is narrower to correspond to the shapeof each of the guide rails 35. Each of the coupling flanges 35 has asecond locking projection 25 which is provided on an end of the couplingflange 35 to be locked to each of the locking flaps 23 of a neighboringcontainer body 20. Each of the second locking projections 25 has asecond locking protrusion 26 which is protruded upward from an end ofeach of the second locking projections 25. Each of the second lockingprojections 25 is positioned just above the stepped part 28 of containerbody 20 while the intermediate lid 30 is coupled to the container body20. In the meantime, an intermediate lid 30, which is coupled to alowermost container body 20, may not have the second locking projections25 because no locking flaps 23 are placed below the lowermost containerbody 20.

The intermediate lids 30 have different storage capacities. According toa height of a part of the coupling part 32 which is bent upward from theplate-shaped part 31 of the intermediate lid 30, the dimension of a gapdefined between the plate-shaped part 31 and an upper neighboringcontainer body 20 is determined. In case that the gap is narrow, theintermediate lid 30 executes only a role of preventing the contactbetween neighboring container bodies 20, thus preventing contained foodsin the lower-layered container body 20 from being smeared on theupper-layered container body 20. On the other hand, in case that the gapis wide, that is, in case that the height of the part of the couplingpart 32 which is bent upward from the plate-shaped part 31 is increased,a substantial space is defined between the intermediate lid 30 and thebottom of the upper-layered container body 20. Thus, foods may becontained in this substantial gap. In other words, additional storagespace may be created by the intermediate lid 30. By providing variousintermediate lids 30 each having a different storage capacity, themulti-layered container can be efficiently adapted according to variousamounts of foods. As such, the multi-layered container of the presentinvention is more convenient to the user.

The operation of the multi-layered container according to the firstembodiment of the present invention will be described herein below.

First, foods are contained in each of the container bodies 20. Each ofthe intermediate lids 30 is, thereafter, coupled to each of thecontainer bodies 20. At this time, in case that the gap defined betweeneach of the intermediate lids 30 and each of upper neighboring containerbodies 20 is wide, the foods may be contained in the intermediate lid30. To couple each of the intermediate lids 30 to each of the containerbodies 20, each of the coupling flanges 35 of the intermediate lids 30slides along each of the guide rails 13 of the container body 20 afterpassing through the locking hole 24 of each of the locking flaps 23 ofthe container body 20. Therefore, each of the coupling flanges 35 is inclose contact with the sidewall part-22 of the container body 20, thuspreventing the coupling flange 35 from being undesirably moved. Whileeach of the intermediate lids 30 is coupled to each of the containerbodies 20, the gap defined between the intermediate lid 30 and thecontainer body 20 is sealed by the packing 33 of each of theintermediate lids 30. Thereafter, the container bodies 20 covered withthe intermediate lids 30 are sequentially stacked on top of another. Theuppermost container body 20 is, thereafter, covered with the cover 10.In the above state, each of the locking flaps 23 of the uppermostcontainer body 20 is rotated and compressed toward the cover 10, so thateach of the first locking projections 15 of the cover 10 is elasticallylocked to the locking hole 24 of each of the locking flaps 23 of theuppermost container body 20, as shown in FIG. 5. Furthermore, each ofthe locking flaps 23 of each of the container bodies 20 is rotated andpressed toward each of the upper container bodies 20 so that, as shownin FIG. 6, the second locking projection 25 of each of the couplingflanges 35 of each of the intermediate lids 30 is elastically locked toeach of the locking flaps 23.

As described above, in the present invention, by use of the intermediatelids 30, the outer surface of the bottom of each of the container bodies20 is not smeared with the contained foods. Furthermore, even though theouter surface of the bottom of the upper-layered container body 20 issmeared with dust while the upper-layered container body 20 is placed ona surface on which the dust was deposited, the lower-placed intermediatelid 30 prevents the foods contained in the lower-layered container body20 from being soiled with the dust smeared on the upper-layeredcontainer body 20. In case that the foods are contained in theintermediate lid 30, the coupling flanges 35 of the intermediate lid 30serve as legs. By the coupling flanges 35, a bottom of the intermediatelid 30 is spaced apart from the surface on which the dust is deposited,while the intermediate lid 30 is placed on the surface. Thus, the dustis prevented from being smeared on the outer surface of the bottom ofthe intermediate lid 30. As such, the multi-layered container of thepresent invention can sanitarily store the foods therein.

In the meantime, because each of the coupling flanges 35 of each of theintermediate lids 30 has the second locking projection 25, existingcontainer bodies can be stacked by using the intermediate lids 30.Therefore, a user obtains a desired multi-layered container bypurchasing only the intermediate lids 30, thus reducing householdexpenses. Furthermore, none of the container bodies 20 has any lockingprojection, such as the first and second locking projections, so that aprocess of washing the container bodies 20 is simplified. In addition,during the process of washing the container bodies 20, a hand of theuser or a scrubber is prevented from being damaged by the lockingprojection.

A multi-layered container according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention is as follows.

In the multi-layered container according to the second embodiment, eachof locking projections of an intermediate lid and each of lockingprojections of an upper-layered container body are locked to the samelocking flap, thus enhancing coupling and contact forces between theintermediate lid and the container body and between the intermediate lidand another neighboring container body.

Hereinafter, a construction of the multi-layered container of thepresent invention will be described in detail with reference to theattached drawings. The multi-layered container having a circularcross-section will be explained in the following description for thesecond embodiment of the present invention, but the bounds of claims ofthe present invention are not limited to the container having a circularcross-section.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the multi-layered container according to thesecond embodiment includes a cover 110, a plurality of container bodies120 and a plurality of intermediate lids 130.

The cover 110 defines a nearly circular appearance. The cover 110 has alocking region which is provided on each of diametrically opposite partsof an outer surface of the cover 110, based on a central portion of thecover 110, to mount a locking device to the locking region. The cover110 may have a pair of or more opposite locking regions. The cover 10includes a cover plate part 111 to cover an uppermost container body120. The cover 110 further includes a sidewall part 112 which extendsdownward from the cover plate part 111, with a first locking projection115 provided at each of the locking regions around an outer surface ofthe sidewall part 112 to be projected outward from the outer surface ofthe sidewall part 112.

Each of the first locking projections 115 has a first locking protrusion116 which is protruded upward from an end of each of the first lockingprojections 115, thus being locked to a locking hole 124 of each oflocking flaps 123 which will be described later herein. By each of thelocking protrusions 116, each of the locking flaps 123 is elasticallylocked to and unlocked from each of the first locking projections 115.

In the meantime, as shown in FIGS. 9, 9A and 10, the cover 110 has areceiving groove 117 which has a channel-shape to be opened downward andis seated on an edge of an open end of the uppermost container body 120.A packing 118 a is provided in the receiving groove 117 to seal a spacedefined between the uppermost container body 120 and the cover 110.

Each of the container bodies 120, which has a structure which makes itpossible to be covered with the cover 110, includes a plurality oflocking regions which define plate-shaped appearances and correspond tothe locking regions of the cover 110. Each of the container bodies 120has a circular-shaped appearance. Each of the container bodies 120comprises a bottom part 121 having a circular appearance, and a sidewallpart 122 extending upward from an edge of the bottom part 121. Each ofthe container bodies 20 further comprises a seating rib (not shown)which is provided around a predetermined portion of an outer surface ofthe sidewall part 122 near to an open top of the container body 120 tobe projected outward in a circumferential direction of the sidewall part122. Thus, the sidewall part 112 of the cover 110 is seated on theseating rib of the container body 120. A stepped part 128 is providedalong a lower portion of the sidewall part 112 of each of the containerbodies 20 near to the bottom part 121 while being depressed from thesidewall part 122 to the bottom part 121, thus being stepped inward fromthe sidewall part 122. The stepped part 128 of the container body 120 isseated on an edge of an open top of another container body 120, thusobtaining multi-layered container bodies 120.

The locking flap 123 and a second locking projection 25 are provided oneach of the locking regions of each of the container bodies 120, so thatthe locking flaps 123 are locked to the first locking projections 115 ofthe cover 110 or the second locking projections 125 of another containerbody 120. Each of the second locking projections 125 is provided justabove the stepped part 128 of each of the container bodies 120. Each ofthe second locking projections 125 has a second locking protrusion 126which is protruded upward from an end of each of the second lockingprojections 125, in the same manner as that described for the firstlocking projections 115.

Each of the locking flaps 123 is projected outward from the outersurface of the sidewall part 122 of the container body 120 to be alignedwith the seating rib of the container body 120. Furthermore, each of thelocking flaps 123 is rotated around a film hinge which is provided oneach of predetermined portions extending from the seating rib. Each ofthe locking flaps 123 has thereon a locking hole 124 to lock the lockingflap 123 to each of the first or second locking projections 115 or 125.Each of the locking holes 24 extends to the outer surface of thesidewall part 22 of the container body 20.

In the meantime, the cover 110 and each of the container bodies 120 havestructures which make it possible to seat the container body 120 on thecover 110 which is separated from the uppermost container body 120. Thatis, each of the container bodies 120 has a projection ring 129 which hasa predetermined width and is projected downward from an outer surface ofthe bottom part 121 of the container body 120 to form a support ring onthe bottom part 121. The cover 110 has a first seating ring 119 whichhas a predetermined radius to correspond to an inner diameter or anouter diameter of the projection ring 129 of the container body 120 andis projected upward from an outer surface of the cover plate part 111 ofthe cover 110 to form a support ring on the cover 110. To seat thecontainer bodies 120 on the cover 110, the cover 110 is placed on asupport surface. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, the container bodies120 are sequentially seated on the cover 110 while the first seatingring 119 of the cover 110 is in close contact with the projection ring129 of a lowermost container body 120. At this time, by a correspondencebetween the first seating ring 119 and the projection ring 129, thecontainer bodies 120 are prevented from being undesirably moved on thecover 110. A plurality of intermediate lids 130, which will be describedlater herein, each have a second seating ring 139 which is depressedfrom the intermediate lid 130 to seat the projection ring 129 of anupper-layered container body 120 on the second seating ring 139.

In the multi-layered container according to the second embodiment, theplurality of intermediate lids 30 are respectively provided between thecover 110 and an uppermost container body 120 and between the containerbodies 120. Each of the intermediate lids 130 has a plate-shaped part131 to prevent contact between neighboring two-layered container bodies120, and a sidewall part which has a coupling slot 132 into which theedge of the open top of the container body 120 is inserted. Theplate-shaped part 131 is arranged to be parallel with both the cover 110and the container body 120. The coupling slot 132 is bent into a channelshape while extending upward, outward and downward from an edge of theplate-shaped part 131. The multi-layered container further includes apacking 133 which is provided in the coupling slot 132 of each of theintermediate lids 130, thus sealing a space defined between the edge ofthe open top of the container body 120 and the intermediate lid 130.

In the meantime, each of the intermediate lids 130 further has a thirdlocking projection 135 which is provided on each of predeterminedportions of the sidewall part of the intermediate lid 130 to correspondto both each of the second locking projections 125 of each of thecontainer bodies 120 and each of the locking flaps 123 of anothercontainer body 120, while the third locking projection 135 extendsoutward from the sidewall part. Each of the third locking projections135 comprises a projection seat 137 which is depressed in acircumferential direction of the intermediate lid 130 to receive thereineach of the second locking projections 125. Each of the third lockingprojections 135 further comprises a support projection part 136 which isprovided on each of both ends of the projection seat 137 to be projectedto a height equal to a thickness of each of the second lockingprojections 125, thus being locked to the locking flap 123. At thistime, each of the support projection parts 136 has the same shape andthe same height as each of the second locking projections 125. Thus,during a locking flap coupling process, each of the second lockingprojections 125 and each of the third locking projections 135corresponding to each other are integrally locked to the same lockingflap 123.

The operation of the multi-layered container according to the secondembodiment of the present invention will be described herein below.

First, foods are contained in each of the container bodies 120 and eachof the intermediate lids 130 which has a sufficient depth to contain thefoods therein. Each of the intermediate lids 130 is, thereafter, coupledto each of the container bodies 120. At this time, the packing 118 b ofeach of the intermediate lids 130 is in close contact with the edge ofthe open top of each of the container bodies 120. Thereafter, thecontainer bodies 120 covered with the intermediate lids 130 aresequentially stacked on top of another. The uppermost container body 20is, thereafter, covered with the cover 10. Then, each of the secondlocking projections 125 of each of the upper-placed container bodies 120is received in the projection seat 137 of each of the third lockingprojections 135 of the lower-placed intermediate lids 130. Furthermore,the edge of the open top of each of the container bodies 120 is insertedinto each of the coupling slots 132, thus being in close contact witheach of the packings 118 b. Thereafter, the cover 110 is seated on theuppermost container body 120. Therefore, the edge of the open top of theuppermost container body 120 is inserted into the receiving groove 117of the cover, thus being in close contact with the packing 118 a. In theabove state, each of the locking flaps 123 of the uppermost containerbody 120 is rotated and compressed toward the cover 110, so that each ofthe first locking projections 115 of the cover 110 is elastically lockedto the locking hole 124 of each of the locking flaps 123 of theuppermost container body 120. Furthermore, each of the locking flaps 123of each of the container bodies 120 is rotated and pressed toward eachof the upper-layered container bodies 120, so that each of the thirdlocking projections 135 and each of the second locking projections 125,received in the projection seat 137 of each of the third lockingprojections 135, are elastically locked to each of the locking flaps123. At this time, the packing 118 a of the cover 110 and the packings118 b of the intermediate lids 130 are in close contact with the edgesof the open tops of the container bodies 120, respectively.

In the second embodiment using the intermediate lids 130 having theabove-mentioned coupling structure, each of the intermediate lids 130 isin close contact with each of the upper-layered container bodies 120 byeach of the locking flaps 123. Therefore, the coupling between each ofthe intermediate lids 130 and each of the neighboring container bodies120 is enhanced. Simultaneously, the coupling and contact between eachof the intermediate lids 130 and each of the relevant container bodies120 is enhanced, thus obtaining the effect of sealing the multi-layeredcontainer.

Furthermore, the outer surface of the bottom of each of the containerbodies 120 is not smeared with the contained foods. In addition, eventhough the outer surface of the bottom of the upper-layered containerbody 120 is smeared with dust while the upper-layered container body 120is placed on a surface on which dust is deposited, the lower-placedintermediate lid 130 prevents the foods contained in the lower-layeredcontainer body 120 from being soiled with the dust smeared on theupper-layered container body 120.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention provides a multi-layeredcontainer, which has an intermediate lid with a structure possible tosanitarily contain foods in the container and allowing even existingcontainer bodies to be stacked into a multi-layered container.

Furthermore, the multi-layered container of the present inventionincreases the coupling force between the intermediate lid and aneighboring container body and the coupling and contact forces betweenthe intermediate lid and a relevant container body, thus preventing thecontained foods from undesirably leaking out.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

1. A multi-layered container, comprising, a cover, with a plurality offirst locking projections provided around a circumferential outersurface of the cover at predetermined intervals to be projected outwardfrom the outer surface of the cover; a plurality of container bodies,comprising a plurality of locking flaps provided around acircumferential outer surface of each of the plurality of containerbodies at predetermined intervals to correspond to the first lockingprojections of the cover, each of the plurality of locking flapsrotatably extending from each of predetermined portions of thecircumferential outer surface of the container body near to an open topof the container body, with a locking hole provided on the locking flapto lock the locking flap to each of the first locking projections; andan intermediate lid provided between the cover and an uppermostcontainer body or between the container bodies, the intermediate lidcomprising: a plate-shaped part; a coupling part bent into achannel-shape while extending from an edge of the plate-shaped part, thecoupling part seated on an edge of the open top of each of the containerbodies; and a plurality of coupling flanges extending downward frompredetermined portions of the coupling part to be placed around thecircumferential outer surface of the container body at predeterminedintervals, with a second locking projection provided on an end of eachof the plurality of coupling flanges to be locked to each of the lockingflaps of a neighboring container body, and further comprising: a guiderail having a pair of guide projections projected from predeterminedportions of the outer surface of each of the container bodies tocorrespond to each of the coupling flanges of the intermediate lid, sothat each of the coupling flanges slides downward along the guide railon the outer surface of the container body while the intermediate lid iscoupled to the container body.
 2. The multi-layered container accordingto claim 1, wherein each of the coupling flanges comprises an inclinedsurface at each of both sidewalls thereof such that an inner surface ofthe coupling flange which is in contact with the container body is widerand an outer surface of the coupling flange is narrower, and each of theguide projections of the guide rail is enlarged in a width as the guideprojection is projected from the outer surface of the container body sothat a contact surface of each of the guide projections which is incontact with each of the sidewalls of the coupling flange is inclined tocorrespond to the inclined surface of each of the sidewalls of thecoupling flange.
 3. The multi-layered container according to claim 1,further comprising: a packing provided in the coupling part of theintermediate lid to be in close contact with the edge of the open top ofthe container body.
 4. A multi-layered container, comprising: a cover,with a plurality of first locking projections provided around acircumferential outer surface of the cover at predetermined intervals tobe projected outward from the outer surface of the cover; and aplurality of container bodies, comprising: a plurality of locking flapsextending from each of predetermined portions of a circumferential outersurface of the container body near to an open top of each of thecontainer bodies to correspond to each of the first locking projections,each of the locking flaps rotated between a position of locking thecover to the container body and a position of unlocking the cover fromthe container body, with a locking hole provided on the locking flap tolock the locking flap to each of the first locking projections; and aplurality of second locking projections provided around thecircumferential outer surface of each of the container bodies atpredetermined intervals while being projected outward from predeterminedportions near to a bottom of the container body to be parallel with thelocking flaps so that the second locking projections are locked to thelocking flaps another container body, wherein the multi-layeredcontainer further comprising: an intermediate lid provided between thecontainer bodies, the intermediate lid comprising: a plate-shaped part;a coupling slot part bent into a channel shape to be opened toward alower direction while extending from an edge of the plate-shaped part,the coupling slot part seated on an edge of the open top of each of thecontainer bodies; and a third locking projection projected outward fromeach of predetermined portions of the coupling slot part to correspondto each of the second locking projections of each of the containerbodies, so that the second and third locking projections correspondingto each other are locked to the same locking flap, wherein the thirdlocking projection comprises: a projection seat depressed in acircumferential direction of the intermediate lid to receive thereineach of the second locking projections; and a support projection partprovided on each of both ends of the projection seat to be projected toa height equal to a thickness of each of the second locking projections,thus being locked to the locking flap.
 5. The multi-layered containeraccording to claim 4, further comprising: a packing provided in thecoupling slot part of the intermediate lid to be in close contact withthe edge of the open top of the container body.